--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Silence is the safest course for any man…" description: "\"Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrusts himself\" — François De La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_silence_silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man_2377435.png" --- # Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who… ![“Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrusts himself” quote by François De La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_silence_silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man_2377435.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_silence_silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man_2377435.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_silence_silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man_2377435.png) > “Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrusts himself” [François De La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When you doubt yourself, staying silent avoids exposing your insecurities. **In simple terms:** Self‑doubt leads to silence to Key Takeaway Think before speaking if unsure. Themes self‑doubt communication honesty Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership meetings - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology self‑esteem social interaction Questions to Reflect On - Do you use silence to protect yourself or to hide? - How might honest dialogue improve confidence? A Different Perspective Silence can also be seen as avoidance, missing opportunities for growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adopt Distrusts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adopt-distrusts-5876760/) [Distrusts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distrusts-648418/) [Man Adopt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-adopt-3305865/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Silence Safest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence-safest-2391804/) ## Related quotes > [“The case is very plain before me. In leaving England, I should leave a loved but empty land — Mr. Rochester is not there;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/the-case-is-very-plain-before-me-in-leaving-england-i-should-leave-a/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [It is your attitude about yourself that a man will adopt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/it-is-your-attitude-about-yourself-that-a-man-will-adopt/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [Silence is the safest policy if you are unsure of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/silence-is-the-safest-policy-if-you-are-unsure-of-yourself/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrust himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man-to-adopt-who-distrust-himself/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Silence is the safest response for all the contradiction that arises from impertinence, vulgarity, or envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/silence-is-the-safest-response-for-all-the-contradiction-that-arises/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [“I like the idea of democracy. You have to have someone everyone distrusts," said Brutha. "That way, everyone's happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-like-the-idea-of-democracy-you-have-to-have-someone-everyone-2/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It may be no less dangerous to claim, on certain occasions, too little than too much. There is something captivating in spirit and intrepidity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-may-be-no-less-dangerous-to-claim-on-certain-occasions-too-little/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“I have been corrupted as much as anyone else by the vast number of menial services which our society has grown to expect and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-been-corrupted-as-much-as-anyone-else-by-the-vast-number-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He also deeply distrusts vampires, as you had guessed yourself,” Bones added. “Aside from that, all I heard was enough repetitions of ‘how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/he-also-deeply-distrusts-vampires-as-you-had-guessed-yourself-bones/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [The silent majority distrusts people who believe in causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-moore/the-silent-majority-distrusts-people-who-believe-in-causes/) [Brian Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-moore/) > [One cannot learn from someone whom one distrusts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/one-cannot-learn-from-someone-whom-one-distrusts/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“The person who distrusts himself has no touchstone for reality—for this touchstone can be only oneself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/the-person-who-distrusts-himself-has-no-touchstone-for-reality-for-2/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [The man who trusts men will make fewer mistakes than he who distrusts them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-man-who-trusts-men-will-make-fewer-mistakes-than-he-who-distrusts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like the idea of democracy. You have to have someone everyone distrusts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-like-the-idea-of-democracy-you-have-to-have-someone-everyone/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The person who distrusts himself has no touchstone for reality - for this touchstone can be only oneself. Such a person interpose between himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/the-person-who-distrusts-himself-has-no-touchstone-for-reality-for/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) ## More by François De La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 François De La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More Silence quotes > [Let us have the luxury of silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/let-us-have-the-luxury-of-silence/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [I just can’t, Nick, okay? Now, please give me a second to lie here in silence and bleed.” – Caleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-just-can-t-nick-okay-now-please-give-me-a-second-to-lie-here-in/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [“A word is not filling in the gaps, but the fertilization of silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/a-word-is-not-filling-in-the-gaps-but-the-fertilization-of-silence/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“I’m not like her. I don’t steal people.” Mr. Tibbalt watched her, saying nothing. The silence made Victoria bristle. “Well, I don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-legrand/i-m-not-like-her-i-don-t-steal-people-mr-tibbalt-watched-her-saying/) [Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/) > [Silence can be the world's strongest weapon in torturing people's emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/silence-can-be-the-world-s-strongest-weapon-in-torturing-people-s/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Proverbs from the East: The wind howls, but the mountain remains still. Even though I make no special attempt to observe the discipline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/proverbs-from-the-east-the-wind-howls-but-the-mountain-remains-still/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“When all are one sentience, Language withers and fades away. Let's sit together and speak in silence, Let's be light to each other's way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-all-are-one-sentience-language-withers-and-fades-away-let-s-sit/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [True friendship is sitting together in silence and feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-friendship-is-sitting-together-in-silence-and-feeling-like-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So what did God say to me in the silence that morning? I’m not sure, but I think God said something like, Don’t try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/so-what-did-god-say-to-me-in-the-silence-that-morning-i-m-not-sure/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I suppose he'll just have to do," she amended. "You'll have to suffer in silence with your male model...I feel for you." "Oh, stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-adornetto/i-suppose-he-ll-just-have-to-do-she-amended-you-ll-have-to-suffer-in/) [Alexandra Adornetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-adornetto/) > [The silent majority is silent, and that is best for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-kocher/the-silent-majority-is-silent-and-that-is-best-for-everybody/) [Gerhard Kocher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-kocher/) > [“I once asked you what anxiety felt like, and you told me that most days left you riddled with bullet holes. Every morning came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-s/i-once-asked-you-what-anxiety-felt-like-and-you-told-me-that-most/) [d.a.s](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-s/) [Browse all 8,731 Silence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrusts himself", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "François De La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man-to-adopt-who-distrusts/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Silence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man-to-adopt-who-distrusts/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_silence_silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man_2377435.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_silence_silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man_2377435.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_silence_silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man_2377435.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrusts himself” — François De La Rochefoucauld", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "François De La Rochefoucauld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Silence is the safest course for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man-to-adopt-who-distrusts/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/silence-is-the-safest-course-for-any-man-to-adopt-who-distrusts/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```